The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the Lake District

For a dog-friendly South American twist on a traditional Lake District getaway, look no further than The Llama’s Pyjamas. Just outside Penrith, this fun and funky hotel has 10 rooms and cottages, all with their own private entrances and unique themes. Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome in all rooms for a small additional fee – so all you have to do is decide if they’d prefer the Aztec or Safari decor. Please do note however, The Llama’s Pyjamas is also home to a few resident llamas so you have to keep your dog on a lead whilst on the grounds.

Located in the middle of a working farm and equestrian centre with Fresian horses, Greenbank Farm B&B is a rural getaway your dog will love almost as much as you do. The farm stay offers a choice of en-suite bedrooms in the gorgeous Grade II heritage-listed farmhouse, or, if you’d prefer, you can rent out the whole shebang for a group of up to 16 – including a lovely seven-person (no dogs, sorry!) jacuzzi. There are also plenty of great walks on the farm and pet-friendly places in the surrounding towns.

Offering a more decadent pet-friendly getaway, Moss Grove Organic in Grasmere is a five star Victorian hotel with an eco-friendly ethos and a love of sustainability. There are 11 rooms available, including superior rooms with a balcony so your dog can lap up that good country air, and a suite with a private outdoor space and hot tub if you feel like really treating them — and yourself, of course.

Not only is the Wordsworth Hotel absolutely stunning, with a picture-perfect stone exterior, landscaped gardens, and stylish and comfortable bedrooms that have hosted everyone from European royalty to American presidents; it’s also happy to host you and your dog. With two-acres of grounds to explore and plenty of scenic walks and dog-friendly spots nearby, this is a great place for some R&R for the whole family.

First opened as the White Horse in 1689, the Mortal Man Inn has long welcomed visitors to the Lake District, offering pints and pub grub to weary travellers and explorers — and their best friends. These days, the pub’s open fires, beer garden, and cosy rooms provide a wonderful respite after a day’s adventuring through the fells, for both humans and hounds alike.

On the northern edge of the Lake District, between Cockermouth and Keswick, the Embleton Spa Hotel is a relaxed 18th-century old farmhouse B&B surrounded by rolling fells that look like they were just made for long dog walks. Loved by all, the lounge and bar are dog-friendly, and so are many of the hotel’s ensuite rooms and serviced apartments. Plus, after a long day of pampering your dog, you can head down to the pool and enjoy some pampering yourself.

Treat your pooch to a lakes and sea adventure with a night or two at The Mansion in Whitehaven. Located on the coast, near enough that you can smell that delicious sea breeze, but still close enough to the Lake District to enjoy the best of the British countryside, The Mansion is a warm and welcoming dog-friendly spot which was once home to William Wordsworth and his family.

Full of quintessentially British charm and elegance, Hillthwaite is the place to go for a romantic, pet-friendly getaway in the Lake District. Close to Windermere – with views over the town and the famous lake – well-behaved dogs are welcome in a handful of the boutique hotel’s rooms for a small charge. They are also welcome, with prior permission, in the Earlston Lounge, but not in other communal areas of the hotel.

One of the Lake District’s friendliest hotels, the family-run Grange Boutique has three dog-suitable rooms and suites where you can bring your best friend – for a fee – as long as they’re over 12-months old and promise to be on their best behaviour. Close to the beach and still within a short drive of some of the Lake’s best sights, this is another place where you and your dog can enjoy the best of both worlds – think walks along the sandy shores and through the fells. In the hotel itself, dogs are not allowed in the dining room or up on the furniture and the sheets, and they ask that your dogs not be left unattended.